While state-mandated, post-election day recounts assess only the accuracy of optical-scanning machines, the current recount will measure how effectively moderators tallied thousands of photocopied ballots that went to polling stations once the original ballots started running out that Tuesday morning.

That tallying process started late that Tuesday evening and carried mostly through the night, as many moderators filled in their tallying sheets from the registrar of voters office in McLevy Hall. They were counting nearly a dozen election races, while the current recount is limited to the gubernatorial one.

Related Stories

By the time they had finished, many of the Election Day moderators were working for nearly 24 hours. In contrast, the recount workers, who aren't Bridgeport residents, get to head home every evening and get some sleep.

And the atmosphere in which they're toiling is far removed from the mania inside McLevy Hall one month ago, when campaign representatives, city officials and members of the media were cramming inside, often spilling into the hallway, craning their necks for clues as to how the process was going.

Several recount workers interviewed for this article acknowledged the difference, but insisted it was part of the recount's point.

"With the legislative season coming up," said John Murphy, "we're looking to figure out if things are working the way they're supposed to, or if the system needs minor adjustments or something major."

"We want to assure the public that there wasn't fraud," Jean de Smet said. "And hopefully the public will feel comfortable with the results." She added: "If that's warranted, of course."